Overtime once again was the Bruins’ friend as Brad Marchand[1] scored the game-winner to give the B’s a 3-2 win over the Rangers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Thursday night at TD Garden. The goal was Marchand’s first of the playoffs, and the Bruins now have won two straight overtime games and all three overtime contests this postseason.

After a scoreless first period, Zdeno Chara[2] got a slap shot through from the point that trickled past Henrik Lundqvist[3], ending the goalie’s shutout streak at 152:23. Ryan McDonagh scored on a laser from the left point that Tuukka Rask[4] didn’t see with bodies in front of him. The goal came with 1.3 seconds left in the second, and Derek Stepan scored 14 seconds into the third to give the Rangers the lead on two goals in a span of 15.3 seconds. It was Torey Krug, playing in his first career NHL[5] playoff game after playing only one regular-season game for Boston this season, who tied it with a slap shot on the power play.

Krug, Matt Bartkowski and Dougie Hamilton were called upon Monday, as Dennis Seidenberg[6], Andrew Ference[7] and Wade Redden were out of action due to various undisclosed injuries. Game 2 will be played Sunday at TD Garden.

WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR THE BRUINS

‘¢ The Rangers might regret not taking advantage of this one later in the series if those defensemen are back. On the other hand, give guys like Krug and Hamilton credit for making the most of their responsibilities. Hamilton showed some of that much-talked-about poise on his pass to Krug on the power play to set up Boston’s second goal.

‘¢ David Krejci[8] picked up the primary assist on Chara’s goal, which means he now has an NHL-best 14 points (five goals, nine assists) through eight games this postseason.

‘¢ Though they didn’t score on it, the Bruins turned in a very strong power play following a Derek Dorsett interference penalty in overtime. The B’s managed six shots on goal during the man advantage — three from Chara and one apiece from Seguin, Hamilton and Jaromir Jagr.

‘¢ Once again, the back end was a source of offense for the Bruins. After the B’s got six goals from their defensemen against the Maple Leafs, they got two more Thursday from Chara and Krug.

‘¢ Speaking of the Bruins’ D, Bartkowski is just oodles more confident these days than he had been in the past with the Bruins. The same kid who was once too afraid of messing up is skating with the puck, hitting guys and doing everything in between. After losing his stick in the neutral zone, Bartkowski lit up Rick Nash[9], much to the delight of the crowd. Bartkowski was on the ice for both New York goals, but he’s been a very important part of this team’s defense since stepping in. He was third on the Bruins in time-on-ice in regulation, skating 21:55.

WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THE BRUINS

‘¢ Johnny Boychuk[10] came ever-so-close to ending the game with 13:25 left in overtime, but he rang a shot off the right post.

‘¢ Boychuk also had a couple injury scares. The blueliner took a bad hit from Taylor Pyatt early in the second period in the corner and was shaken up. He stayed down on the ice while being tended to by Don DelNegro and went down the tunnel after leaving the ice, but he returned to the bench in short order and ended up only missing maybe a minute. His return was well-timed, as it came at the start of a Chara penalty. If Boychuk was out while Chara was in the box, the B’s would have had only McQuaid and the rookies available on defense for the penalty kill.

Then in overtime, Boychuk left the ice in pain after missing a check in the corner and was doubled over on the bench. He stayed in the game, but the last thing the B’s need is another defenseman dealing with pain.

‘¢ After picking up just one point (an assist) the entire first round, Tyler Seguin[11] once again forgot to bring the good stuff. Playing on the third line with Chris Kelly[12] and Rich Peverley[13], Seguin shot the puck right at Lundqvist’s chest on a first-period opportunity and couldn’t get the puck out of the zone on the Rangers’ possession on which they scored in the final seconds of the second period. Seguin has no goals, one assist and a minus-2 rating through eight games this postseason.

‘¢ Not necessarily something that went wrong, but something to keep an eye on: Chara played 30:02 in regulation alone, and that’s with a penalty. The Bruins have to hope all of these injuries on defense doesn’t mean wearing down their captain.

‘¢ While it was a positive sign to see Boychuk stay in the game, it wasn’t all good for No. 55. He and Seguin both screened Rask on McDonagh’s goal. Rask should have had Stepan’s, but it didn’t seem like he got a look at McDonagh’s.

‘¢ All of that talk about blocked shots wasn’t for nothing. Dan Girardi went down to block a shot from Seguin that would have sealed the deal for the Bruins in the final seconds of regulation.

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